Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-06

TALKING OF SUBURBAN ROADS:
The Hearing To-day ON the Proposed
Connccticut Avenue Extension.
OBJECTIONS MADE no xxrxxprsa rur ,vxxrs AND
TO WIDENING THE COLUMBIA RoAp-QrRsTIoNs
RAISED As 10 THE LEGAL AUTHORITY OF TIE CON-
MrsSToNERS.
The District Commissioners sat to-day to hear
the persons who object to the proposed widening
OF Columbia road and Garfield avenue and also
| the extension OF Connecticut avenue, from Oak
land avenue to Woodley lane. 1t is proposed to
widen Columbia road, from Boundary street TO
18th street extended, from 33to 100 feet and to
widen GARFIELD avenue to a uniform width OF SO
ieet. At noon, the hour fixed for the hearing,
there was quite gathering OF citizens at the Of
nee OF the commissioners. Among them were
Rear Admiral Quackenbush, Messrs. Geo. Trues-
DELL John W. Douglass Frank NJ. Green, n. l.
Noerr, and other citizens interested in property
on tne road; MessrS Robert Christy, W. +. Mat
tingly, VIM. Henry Browne, A. c. Bradley and
other lawyers representing property owners and
delegauon from the East Washington citizens
Association composed of MeSsrs G. Dawson, Chas.
Pelham, S. T. Suit, John L. Herrell NJ. l. Weller,
Dr =. a. Adams and DIR. Lee White.
nreSent i's Sonsn;s Mneatiey and Ludlow Mers
alterations of the roads.
THE PAPERS IN THR CASE.
Tne nearing was opened by DR.. Tindall, the sec
Rotary OF the Commissioner who read the adver-
Used notice OF the proposed changes and the
the same. These included a petition signed by
Geo TrueSdell, Leroy Tuttle, Amandale Decru,
Helen r Tindall Otis F. Presbrey, and Max
Wlaened and agreeing to donate SO much OF their
holdings as would be required for the purpose;
sands, Mrs. T. n. Alexander, and Catharine w.
Truesds wasssman o Offering II g sub:er SS
oner1ng to donate land GARFIELD avenue but de-
snng that the question OF his damages on Column
ndS o snoaaa 60 70 jury; from Hrs Helen
IL was proposed TO add to the Columbia road; from
Rear Admiral Quackenbush and from n. L. Noerr,
oDJectlng TO the proposed widening.
RAISING LEGAL QUESTIONS.
MI. Matt1ngly, representing, as he stated, the
trustees OF the heirs OF Geo. Beattie Blake formally
objected to the proposed widening and extension,
and raised the points that the Commissioners had
no jurisdiction and that they could not anticipate
Mattingly urged that the law gave the power Of
condemnation to the old legislative assembly and
questioned whether the Commissioners had in
THE PROTEST FROM EAST WASHINGTON
Mr.. Dawson, representing the East Washington
Association, said they were not opposed to the i'm
provement OF any road, provided that no money Is
expended from the current appropriation for su-
Improvement OF the Eastern branch road.
I'VE 90 not contemplate any such expenditure"
Mr.. Chas. Pelham, for the East Washington As
sociaton, read the resolutions adopted By that
protesting against the carrying out Of
me project provided that II contemplated the ex-
pend1ture OF any part OF the appropriation made
for suburban roads and streets and also suggest
Ing that the roads that should be improved were
The protest was received bS the Sommissionaers.
I'VE are Obliged TO you" said Mr.. Dawson, as
MS ociegaaon was ABOUT to leave, "for the aSSur.
pended"
Col. Ludlow explained that the Commissioners
did not now contemplate the use OF any funds 'rne
In the appropriation now"
1T IS the southeast as well as the northeast"
'"rhe southeast has no suburban roads, re-
ma marked Col Ludlow. ut has the Eastern Branch
.'We would like to have some assurance in rela-
ZION TO the Eastern Branch road, said Mr.. Daw-
THAT, said Col Ludlow, evil very properly
form the subject OF communication at another
time"
With this the East washingtonians withdrew.
MI. Robert ChriSty. representing Mr.. Noerr also
raised the legal question as to jurisdiction lie re-
marked smfilngly that he did not suppose the
commissioners wanted to look gift horse in the
mouth. "a gift" he added, '.inay prove more
costly than thing purchased" After some tax
IL was agreed that the legal matters should be re-
IeIIeu 10 AttOIney Rldule, VIII whom the counsel
will confer.
WHY MRS. A1nILAN OBJECTS.
Gen Browne, who. with Mr.. Brady represented
Mrs. Angelina NJ MCMILLAN summarized the points
OF her objections as follows:
l. Because the same Is not in accordance with the
general scheme OF street extensions not being in
direct line with said avenue, but being detected
at such an angle, aud in such direction as to fail
to correspond with said avenue or with any other
street of said city.
2. Because such proposed extension OF Connect1.
cut avenue Is unnecessary to the public as the
Columbia road AFFORDS sufficient access to WOodley
Lane to answer the practical purposes of the
public.
3. Because the opening OF such new road is not
public necessity, Is not demanded by the con-
venience OF residents, and is sought solely in the
pecun1ary interest Of some one or more property
holders in that locality, and because the several
avenues leading westerly from Columbia road
anord all requisite facilities OF access to the three
or four dwellings, now standing near the proposed
new road.
4 Because the proposed extension is not practi-
cable as q through way to Woodley Lane, because
OF the peculiar conformation Of the surface near
said WOodley Lane.
S. Because the condemnation of her three said
lots would be 1rreparabe injury to her three
naming lots in this that it would leave her from
tage on said extension" OF $50 feet, with depth
not suf1cient for the purposes Of a villa site.
g. Because the Commissioners OF the District of
Columbia are without jurisdiction to proceed in
2. Because there does not appear to be any ap-
preparation provided by law to meet the expenses
contingent upon the said proposed extension OF
Connecticut avenue.
In respect to the point that the proposed extern
sion was not in accordance with the general
scheme OF street extensions, Colonel Ludlow said:
1--WE see that quite clearly, but we have get up
that bill, and we cannot go up in a straight line"
THE Law QUESTIONS AGAIN.
Mr.. Bradley said the point was that the Commits
siOners had no power to incur obligations without
the direct authority of Congress.
Col. Ludlow said that there was an appropria-
ton that the Commissioners might use for this
purpose but in this particular case there was q
fund subscribed by property-Owners.
Gen. Browne said that consent did not give 1u-
r1sdiction.
There was considerable informal talk. Mr..
Douglass suggested that in widening columbia
road If all the ground taken were taken from the
east side would make the road conform better to
Col Ludlow stated that the protests nled would
be preserved and go to the jury, which the mar
shall would be requested 70 summon, and this
ended the hearing.
Col. Ludlow stated to q STAR reporter that he
did not think the legal questions raised would en-
barraSS the Commissioners as they had taken
counsel with their attorney on that matter on for
mer occasions and there was no doubt OF their au-
thOrity to take these preliminary steps to secure
An Alleged DemOraliZing Exhibition.
COMPLAINED OF BY AVENUE BUSINESS MEN AS
NUISANCE.
The following is copy Of letter which was
sent to the WomenS Christian Temperance Union,
and they transmitted 1t to the District Commits